U.S. considers some free wireless broadband service

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A man using his mobile phone accesses a broadband wireless internet connection on his laptop in central Sydney April 7, 2009. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz

A man using his mobile phone accesses a broadband wireless internet connection on his laptop in central Sydney April 7, 2009.

Credit: Reuters/Daniel Munoz

WASHINGTON | Tue Mar 9, 2010 2:22pm EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. regulators may dedicate spectrum to free wireless Internet service for some Americans to increase affordable broadband service nationwide, the Federal Communications Commission said on Tuesday.

The FCC provided few details about how it would carry out such a plan and who would qualify, but will make a recommendation under the National Broadband Plan set for release next week. The agency will determine details later.

One way of making broadband more affordable is to "consider use of spectrum for a free or a very low cost wireless broadband service," the FCC said in a statement.

The FCC statement was released during a Digital Inclusion Summit aimed at connecting one-third of Americans without home broadband service.

The FCC also said there would also be a recommendation in the broadband blueprint to launch a Digital Literacy Corps of volunteers who would provide training to communities with low rates of adoption.

(Reporting by John Poirier; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)
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Comments (4)
eaanders wrote:
The country would now be way ahead of where it is now if free wireless broadband had been implemented in all major cities and along interstate highways. There would be no hodge podge of cell phone companies charging outrageous prices and wasting money on advertising when they all have nearly the same service to offer and use hardware exclusivity as a way to shut out the competition.

Mar 09, 2010 12:14pm EST  --  Report as abuse
kaptowka wrote:
Yeah, except free doesn’t make money so, therefore it is not allowed in the US.

Mar 09, 2010 5:44pm EST  --  Report as abuse
ButtOutOfMyLife wrote:
Great, another “free” thing I’ll be paying for.

Mar 09, 2010 7:24pm EST  --  Report as abuse
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